Newsletter: European sanctions to suffocate Moscow’s war chest

Hello from Brussels. Mared Gwyn gives you all the keys to starting the day off right.

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We start this morning with a update on sanctions against Moscow : Brussels is impatiently awaiting the European Commission’s proposal for a new package of economic sanctions against Russia, which should most likely be presented today, our in-house sanctions specialist tells us, Jorge Liboreiro.

This 21st package since February 2022 should focus on the price cap imposed on Russian oil, currently set at $44 per barrel. According to EU rules, this ceiling must be regularly adjusted to remain 15% below the average market price of Russian crude. As the price of Ural crude has risen following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the next revision, scheduled for July 15, is expected to be upward rather than downward.

Nobody in Brussels obviously wants to offer the slightest respite to Moscow while drones and missiles are falling daily on Ukrainian cities. The Commission should therefore either postpone the revision or propose a fixed figure. The objective, in any case, is to lock it. As we have previously reported, hopes for a complete ban on maritime services for Russian tankers almost vanished, which brings attention back to the ceiling (which this ban was to make obsolete).

This 21st package must also continue efforts against the “ghost fleet”, close the loopholes and blacklist entities that help Moscow to circumvent sanctions.

It will also be necessary to follow the issue of alumina, this white powder which plunged Ireland into a communications nightmare a few weeks before it took office as president of the Council of the EU. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, is expected in Dublin during the day to meet with her colleague Helen McEntee, and the case of Aughinish Alumina, the company at the heart of the controversy, will be on the menu. Jorge Liboreiro dissects the scandal.

When it comes to individuals, the big question is whether Brussels will seize the opportunity to sanction the patriarche Kirillhead of the Russian Orthodox Church. Hungary, which has protected it for the past four years, has indicated that it is ready to do so under its new government.

The Commission hopes that this new round of sanctions will be approved by July 15 in order to avoid the automatic revision of the Russian oil price ceiling. There are good reasons to believe that the deadline will be met: Russia’s decision to intensify its murderous attacks on Ukrainian cities has strengthened the collective determination to strangle the war machine. European allies are watching for a window to force Vladimir Putin to return to the negotiating table.

Controversy surrounding the Taliban: 47 European deputies from five political groups have asked the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, to refuse to grant Belgian visas to representatives of the Taliban regime, who are to meet this month in Brussels with officials of the European Commission for discussions, reports my colleague Vincenzo Genovese .

In a letter consulted by EuronewsMEPs are concerned about negotiating with a regime responsible for massive violations of freedoms and human rights, believing that letting the Taliban go to Belgium could be perceived as a form of political recognition, incompatible with the position of the EU institutions.

“Authorizing Taliban representatives to visit Belgium is a form of recognition incompatible with EU values”wrote Saskia Bricmont, from the Verts/ALE group, on social networks.

France and Germany abandon their joint combat aircraft project, due to lack of agreement between manufacturers

France and Germany announced Monday that they had decided to abandon a joint combat aircraft program due to disagreements between the manufacturers involved, dealing a blow to European efforts to strengthen defense cooperation.

The Future Air Combat System (SCAF) program was launched in 2017 to replace the French Rafale and Eurofighter used by Germany and Spain.

It was to be complemented by drones, sensors and digital communications systems designed to operate together in a networked battlespace.

This project was seen as a major test of European efforts to strengthen their defense cooperation, at a time when the continent seeks to display a united front against a hostile Russia, against a backdrop of deteriorating relations with the United States.

Verena Schad et Emma De Ruiter give all the details.

Other articles from our editorial staff

Seven EU countries are urging Brussels to resist any further relaxation of car emissions targets. Governments including France and Spain have urged Brussels to oppose any rollback of CO2 standards for cars and vans, saying a weakening of emissions rules would endanger Europe’s climate goals, its economic competitiveness and its energy security, according to a document consulted by Euronews journalist Marta Pacheco.

What is “Kushner Island” and why are Albanians protesting? Known as Sazan Island, this former Italian military position and then secret communist naval base is being contested again as a proposed luxury resort raises nature conservation questions, Simon Ormiston explains all**.**

Israeli strikes kill 14 people in Lebanon as attacks continue despite threats from Iran. At least 14 people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, the country’s health ministry said, as attacks continued despite Iran’s threats to strike Israel again if the bombings continued. Emma De Ruiteren says more.

We also keep an eye on

• The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, visits Dublin, Ireland.
• The European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, presents the European Drugs Report 2026.
• European Transport Ministers are meeting in Luxembourg for a “Transport, Telecommunications and Energy” Council devoted to telecommunications.
• European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Å uica and European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen give a presentation on trans-Mediterranean cooperation on renewable energy and of clean technologies at 3 p.m.
• The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, takes part in the 85th commemoration of the victims of Soviet mass deportations.

That’s all for today. Jorge Liboreiro, Vincenzo Genovese and Angela Skujins contributed to this newsletter.